My Best Breakfast on the Bay

Down-home cooking the way Mom used to make it

By Bob Melamud

With your guidance, I’ve continued my search for the Best Breakfast on the Bay.
Limited in time, money and calories, I tried the top three vote-getters. My winner: The Pennsylvania Dutch Market of Annapolis, also known as the Amish Market.
Served here is breakfast like my mother used to make us. If you’re craving eggs benedict with smoked salmon and capers, this is not the place. But if you want down-home cooking at a good price, try it.
The menu offers eggs, omelets, pancakes and breakfast sandwiches; nothing fancy and nothing trendy, and that’s just fine with me. The food is good and the service excellent. Timing is the key to a successful visit. The restaurant — and the market it is part of — is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and it’s very popular. I first visited at opening time (8am) on a Saturday. By the time I was seated, the place was three-quarters full. By the time I left there was a line for tables. It was almost full on my second visit at 10:30 on a Friday. I suspect at peak time there is always a wait for a table.
If you haven’t been to the market lately, that alone is worth the trip. I couldn’t finish my meal of pancakes. When I walked through the market, I was tempted by all the goodies but able to resist. After a more modest omelet on my second trip, I succumbed to temptation.
If you’re even remotely a foodie, you’ll love browsing, if not shopping. The fresh meat market offered six different kinds of bacon, all at prices better than a typical chain grocery. The prepared food market was the first to pull me in, and I bought prepared ribs, smoked sausage and fried chicken that we had for dinner, all very good. I managed to make it past the bakery, but the candy counter got me. Specifically the bacon coated with chocolate. I reminded myself that anything in moderation can be okay. Sadly, it wasn’t as good as I imagined, but you’ll want to try it for yourself.
The Pennsylvania Dutch Market at the Annapolis Harbour Center is open Thursday and Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. www.padutchfarmmarket.com.

Return to the beginning of Melamud’s search at www.bayweekly.com/node/21292